Americans for Truth About Homosexuality

For those of you worried about militant radical homosexuals, you can rest easy because Americans for Truth About Homosexuality, a “newly reorganized national organization devoted exclusively to exposing and countering the homosexual activist agenda,” is out to protect you. AFTAH seeks a “single-minded determination” to oppose “the radical homosexual agenda (while) standing for God-ordained sexuality and the natural family.” AFTAH sees itself as a bulwark against the “countless homosexual groups (who are) promoting their harmful agenda.”

Homosexual groups’ harmful agenda? Harmful to whom?

February 15 marks the one-year anniversary of the death of 15-year-old Lawrence “Larry” King. Larry was shot twice in the back of the head as the school day was beginning at E.O. Green School in Oxnard, California. Doing the shooting, using a .22 caliber revolver, was classmate 14-year-old Brandon McInemey. Why? Brandon didn’t like it that Larry was so effete. On occasion, Larry wore make-up and jewelry to school. Brandon knew that he must be a homosexual. Three days after the shooting King was taken off life support and pronounced dead.

Well, AFTAH, is that the type of harm you’re campaigning against? I don’t think so.

Then who is the target of this homosexual witch hunt instigated by AFTAH? It’s The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF), a highly successful and respected gay/lesbian rights organization, and it’s annual “Creating Change” conferences. A conference which promotes understanding, respect and education, especially among and towards our youth.

However, AFTAH’s president, Peter LaBarbera, 46, is seriously concerned about the “sheer organization” of the “thousands of left-wing, grassroots activists [who] attend these annual ‘Creating Change’ conferences…this scale of people and groups working closely together toward common goals.”

But it’s too late for both Larry and Brandon. Brandon will be tried as an adult for Larry’s murder. The murder has been designated a hate crime and Brandon could receive a sentence of 50 years to life in prison if convicted. Brandon’s defense? He claimed that Larry was “sexually harassing” him in weeks leading up to the shooting.

Peter has done over a thousand interviews on the homosexual, bisexual, and transgender agenda – with special focus on the inroads that the pro-homosexuality movement has made among America’s youth. So, AFTAH, what about the murder of a gay teen? Possible life imprisonment for a 15-year-old? Obviously, you have things ass-backwards! You know little about the true nature of homosexuality. However, there’s nothing backwards about AFTAH’s attempts to raise money to continue it’s attacks. Shooting and killing of a gay teen? Doesn’t matter. Peter knows that when it comes to demonizing homosexuality, the conservative money well runs deep.

According to Catherine Saillant, in the February 12, 2009 Los Angeles Times, “Brandon was the aggressor, teasing the effeminate King for weeks and vowing to ‘get a gun and shoot’ him. Multiple students provided accounts of a growing hostility between the two boys. But after months of teasing by Brandon and other male students who called him ‘faggot,’ he had began to retort, according to prosecutors. The day before the shooting, the two boys were bickering during seventh period. When King left, a student witness said that Brandon commented, ‘I’m going to shoot him.’”

NGLTF and Creating Change is the premier national grassroots organizing and skills building event promoting LGBT equality. Each year the conference is held in a different region of the United States…It is well known for providing a unique environment where activists and leaders come together. Rea Carey, Executive Director of NGLTF, “ said, “The Task Force couldn’t be prouder of our role in propagating ‘the homosexual activist agenda’ as the hosts and organizers of Creating Change for over 21 years now. Let’s prove AFTAH right by making 2009 the biggest, scariest year it and other opponents of LGBT rights have ever seen.”

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Since King’s death, teachers have asked for training in how to identify gay and lesbian students who might be struggling with their sexual identity, said Jay Smith of the Ventura County Rainbow Alliance, an area support group for LGBT teens. Teachers also have asked for resources to help students who may be experiencing bullying. It’s been tougher getting school districts to expand any diversity awareness. “There’s always that sense that you’re pushing an agenda,” said Smith. “We’re not. We just don’t want to have another gay or lesbian student shot twice in the head during school.”

Peter is unfazed and upfront as he confesses that he “has been falsely accused of being a repressed homosexual more times than he can remember.” Americans For Truth is a rare single-issue national group on the other side of this critical “culture war” issue.” Warns Peter, “There are over a dozen national American ‘gay’ groups with annual budgets ranging from just under $1 million to over $30 million working to advance this agenda ― which threatens to criminalize Christian opposition to behavior that most Americans believe is wrong.”

Being targeted by AFTAH are:

Human Rights Campaign

Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN)

Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)

Lambda Legal

ACLU Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Project

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network

Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)

National Center for Lesbian Rights

National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association

GenderPac

Soulforce

Gay & Lesbian Advocates and Defenders

Observed reporter Saillent, “The one-year anniversary of the shooting is being marked in Oxnard/Ventura by a candlelight march and vigil organized by a local gay-rights group. Similar memorials are being planned across the state.”

One final note, Larry’s death came 10 years after the beating murder of University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard, who was also killed because of his sexual orientation.

DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed here are those of the individual contributor(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the LA Progressive, its publisher, editor or any of its other contributors.

About Carl Matthes

Carl Matthes is a native of Los Angeles and has lived in Eagle Rock for 45 years. He is the current president of UGLA, Uptown Gay and Lesbian Alliance, a grassroots organization in Northeast Los Angeles which provides a support system for gay men and lesbians and education for individuals and the community-at-large on the true nature of homosexuality. He is a former columnist and a current advisor to the Lesbian News, the oldest lesbian publication in America, which is owned and published by his sister, Ella. He was editor of the GLAAD/LA (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) newsletter, a former GLAAD National Board member and served as a GLAAD/LA representative on the LGBT/LAPD Advisory Board. Carl has also been a Board member of AIDS Healthcare Foundation.

In July, 2008, Carl was legally married to Carl Johnson, his partner of 45 years, by Los Angels City Councilmember Jose Huizar. It was a unique gay/lesbian double ceremony as Carl's sister Ella and her partner Gladi were also married by Jose.

Comments

Thank you Carl. My heart weeps for all of the lesbian and gay kids that are tormented in schools. When I was growing up, gay and lesbian teachers were fired for being gay. My mom once told me that the schools should go out of their way to KEEP gay teachers so that lesbian and gay kids would have role models, just like the straight kids have.

It’s so sad to realize that there are still organizations out there that want to encourage even more hatred of gays and lesbian citizens. It’s especially painful when religious organizations preach hate. When will they realize that people are born gay, they don’t choose to be different.

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